Until first-generation college student Yatziry Vargas graduates and can use her degree in multimedia graphic design from Pikes Peak State College to get a good-paying job, she’s relying on the new Canvas Community Food Pantry at the school in Colorado Springs to help pay household bills.

By not having to spend money on groceries, Vargas says she can feed herself, her family and her dog — “without having to worry about finances.”

Also, she said, “I save gas money and have more time to study when I don’t have to make a trip to the grocery store.”

Food pantries aren’t new to college campuses, but they’ve become a lifeline for struggling students in recent years as inflation has pushed the cost of food to what some consider to be unattainable prices.

Three local universities and colleges that provide food pantries for students have new features this year.

Pikes Peak State College, Canvas Community Food Pantry

A new funder, Canvas Community Credit Union, has come onboard, changing the name of the pantry that’s been in existence since 2018 and known as The Community Table to Canvas Community Food Pantry.

“The Community Table was sourced from Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado and community donations. While both are still sourcing channels to the food pantry, these alone could not keep up with the need, especially since COVID,” said Rachel Tyrrell, content coordinator for marketing and communications.

Canvas Community Credit Union, a 35-branch institution that also recently became the school’s preferred credit union, has committed to donating $50,000 per year for five years to cover the gap and create full funding for the campus’ three food pantries, she said.

“The partnership started with identifying the largest barriers in education that students are facing, with food insecurity being a leading issue,” Tyrrell said. In a related initiative, Canvas also is providing grants to help students who are military veterans afford textbooks, she added.

The main Centennial campus of PPSC off South Academy Boulevard, the Rampart Range campus off Interquest Parkway and the Downtown campus provide food pantries for students. The school’s medical campus, the Center for Healthcare Education and Simulation, does not have a food pantry but does offer students a shuttle to the nearby Rampart Range campus, which is less than a mile away, Tyrrell said.

The school’s food pantry operations have grown substantially, from 6,000 users a year in 2021 to 38,000 users at the end of the 2023-24 academic year, she said.

Pikes Peak State College largely enrolls a nontraditional age demographic, with nearly one-third of students being military-affiliated, Tyrrell said. Many students are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, she said, with some balancing their studies along with jobs and children at home.

“These students are making valuable investments into their futures through education, but food insecurity remains a persistent concern for many,” Tyrrell said.

Donna Nelson, chief development officer at the school, said many students have been forced to drop out or pause their studies because of financial hardship.

“Food insecurity or the inability to cover required expenses such as textbooks can feel like insurmountable barriers to those students living on the economic edge,” Nelson said in a statement.

Steve Ferrero, spokesman for Canvas, said the company’s motto, “We serve with heart,” is heartfelt.

“Our foundation’s pillars call us to serve all in need, but we are especially passionate about veteran and student populations,” he said in a statement. “When we help these students meet their needs, they in turn can focus on achieving their academic goals.”

Colorado College, CC Food Pantry, Swap Space and Meal Voucher Program

Colorado College’s food pantry emerged during the pandemic in 2020 out of a growing need that began with the campus activities office handing out snacks during breaks.

But it became clear that students needed more than just snacks, said Erika Perry, who oversees the CC Food Pantry.

Free non-perishable food as well as bread, eggs, toiletries and hygiene products, fresh fruits and vegetables now are available twice weekly during terms and once during breaks, she said.

Any student can sign up for the service online and fill out a form of what they’d like. This academic year about 30 students on average use the pantry once a week, Perry said, a number that’s held steady since last school year.

Bread and fresh produce are the fastest to go out the door, she said, along with eggs and rice.

Also, a pantry exchange known as Swap Space, a repurposed mailroom, enables students to access free food on one side and swap out used items, such as clothing, on the other side.

The program is designed to “reduce waste by providing opportunities to donate gently used items that contribute to CC’s overall well-being by meeting basic needs,” according to the college website.

A new initiative, the CC Meal Voucher Program, launched this year, in partnership with the dining hall supplier, Bon Appetit, Perry said.

“We were able run an application process that resulted in issuing nearly 400 vouchers for free meals at the on-campus dining hall to about 40 students experiencing food insecurity,” Perry said.

The program is offered in the fall and the spring semesters.

UCCS, Clyde’s Cupboard

What started as an anthropology class project more than a decade ago is now Clyde’s Cupboard at the Colorado Springs campus of the University of Colorado.

The free food and toiletries pantry has evolved from a few shelves of items offered “for students, by students” to an official program under the Office of the Dean of Students that’s funded by multiple contributors on- and off-campus with a large capacity for distribution, said Amber Gilson, UCCS’ basic needs coordinator.

Named after the school mascot, Clyde’s Cupboard marked its 10th anniversary in April.

The donation-funded, non-needs-based pantry is open to all UCCS students, who can pick up eight food items and five hygiene products per week.

New this semester is a partnership between Clyde’s Cupboard and the UCCS Farm Stand. Students can grab fresh produce and eggs grown in greenhouses on campus, 24/7 at no cost.

With a few weeks to go in the fall semester, students had swiped in for usage online 2,465 times, Gilson said. The entire spring semester saw 2,355 swipes, showing program growth, she said.

“We’ve seen a steady increase over the past two years,” Gilson said.

Popular selections include cereal, Ramen noodles, canned meats, protein bars and pasta. Fresh foods are available every other Friday.

The pantry has become important, Gilson said, since food insecurity — a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle — affects many college students nationwide.

Nearly half of UCCS students reported food insecurity in a recent National College Health Assessment.

Testimonials confirm the need. One student said they walked out with a bag of groceries that allowed them to make a complete meal, which “brought physical, mental and emotional relief” to their day.

Another student said they got off work early one day and didn’t have transportation to get to a store — but remembered the Ramen in the cupboard at home, which uplifted their mood and gave peace of mind.